One reason business groups resist the paid sick leave bill is because the seven days would be added to companies’ existing paid-time-off benefits unless the leave was specifically designated as sick time.

The measure, the product of more than two years of negotiations among lawmakers, insurers, patient advocates and the business community, would require equality between mental health and medical/surgical benefits on treatment, costs and out-of-network coverage.

To avoid disputes about the nature of requested accommodations, it is suggested that, when requests for time off or job reassignments are made, employers require employees to specify, in writing, the nature of the request.